CHAPTER 10
1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Let's refer back to 1Cor 8:8-9

The members at Corinth probably stated that eating of things offered to idols would do no
harm, since they were saved and led by the Holy Spirit of God.
However, Paul admonishes them, "I would not that ye should be ignorant...."

The Jews under Moses were led by the Shekinah glory cloud.
It gave them guidance by day, and served as protection from their enemies.
At night it turned into a pillar of fire so they had LIGHT, and MORE protection from enemies.

Paul says (quite expressly) that Shekinah glory cloud was CHRIST!
Though He had not yet become incarnate, He was certainly their Protector, Guide, and
the physical manifestation of the invisible God!

We must consider the wholeness of the Bible and its truths which lead and guide us properly.
The Jews under Moses also committed apostasy - which is the failure to follow the will of God.
(It is not a loss of salvation, but a willing decision to leave off obeying God's express will.)

Two things to remember here:
1) Just because something is not harmful to a Christian, does not mean it won't harm his/her WITNESS;
2) Failure to follow God's express will results in loss of our intimate personal relationship with Him.

Paul has MORE to say about this subject.

5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

Those under Moses' leadership enjoyed many blessings from God.
But many of them were "destroyed" because of ingratitude and rebellion.
Only TWO men (and their families) from that generation actually entered the "Promised Land": Caleb & Joshua!
All the rest died in wars, pestilence, disease and natural causes BEFORE getting there!

Paul says "...these things were our examples..".
They are warnings to not lust after things of the world.
See 1Cor 6:12

7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink,
and rose up to play.

Often, those feasts to idols in Corinth and other places, ended with festive dancing, which was sometimes quite lewd.

8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

Paul refers to the problem incurred in Num. 25:1-9

Because God was displeased with their action, He sent a plague which killed some 24,000.
Do you think God is insensitive to sexual licentiousness?
Is this not perhaps the reason why we have so many sexually transmitted diseases today? (STD'S)

9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

In Num. 21:1-6, the Hebrews were constantly complaining.
And, God sent poisonous serpents to bite them!

Through this constant complaining, the Jewish people under Moses tempted "Christ."
As I stated before, the Shekinah glory cloud was a form of Christ because
HE is the visible manifestation of the invisible God!
See Ex 23:20-21.

We must remember that the word Christ is derived from the Greek Christos.
That word is a Greek equivalent of the Hebrew mashiach which is rendered Messiah.
And, according to Is 43:11, the LORD (Jehovah) is the SAME as the Messiah!

Was it not the LORD, the Messiah, Who was leading them through the wilderness?

10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

Israel sent spies into the land of Canaan (See Num. 13).
When the spies returned, some of them said it was a great land, BUT...there were many GIANTS there!

Then the people murmured against Moses and Aaron, and tried to find someone to lead them BACK to Egypt!
They were so afraid of the giants, they couldn't see God's hand delivering them!

As a result, God condemned that whole generation to die in the wilderness (according to their own desire).

11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

EACH of those examples is for our benefit today!
They are an "admonition" to not walk by sight, but by faith!

My friends, WE are the ones "upon whom the ends of the world are come!"
One day, Christ will come and rule upon this earth for 1,000 years (See Rev 20:1-3).
He will rule WITHOUT interference from Satan's deceitfulness.
UNTIL that time, Christians sharing the Gospel of Christ will CONTINUE!!

Yet AFTER that 1,000 years, Satan will be loosed!
And, he will decieve so many they will be numbered as "the sand of the sea!"

Keep in mind, those who have lived in that 1,000 years will have been under the rule of
Christ Himself, and the rule of His saints!!
Yet, they STILL will be deceived!!!

To serve Christ by SIGHT and not FAITH is USELESS when contending with Satan the great deceiver!!

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Let me put verse 12 into modern English (A McGee translation) if you will.
"Perhaps you think you are strong; be careful!
For you might be tricked into some of those sins above (vss 7-10)."

Let's just face it Christians.
Sometimes we tend to walk in our OWN strength, and that's when we FAIL!

YOU, my Christian friend can certainly fall into apostasy.
If you are genuinely surrendered to Christ as Lord, you will not lose your salvation, but
you can lose your CLOSENESS with God.
And, thus you lose your provision, protection and guidance!!

And, if you lose those -- you will not SEE the door marked "ESCAPE!!"

14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

The GREATEST form of idolatry is SELF-WORSHIP!!
FLEE it!
RUN to God in prayer and Bible study!!

If you are WISE, "JUDGE"!
That means MAKE A DECISION!

16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

By partaking of "communion" we do two things: 1) We TESTIFY that we are SURRENDERED to Jesus as LORD of our lives;

2) we DECLARE ourselves to be UNITED with others who are surrendered to Christ!

We, as Christians, are all part of that ONE BREAD! (See John 6:33-35)
We, as Christians, are all part of CHRIST's "body!"
You may be the toe and I may be the elbow.
But Christ is the HEAD!!

Let us be surrendered first to HIM, then we will be surrendered to one another!

18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

See Israel?
They they are an example.
They ALL partake of the SAME "altar."

Let's read on to see where this is going.

19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

Those sacrifices made to idols were sacrifices to "devils!"

Should the Christian align himself with those who "fellowship with devils?"
NO!

21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

Drinking of the cup of communion with Christ is symbolic of belonging to Him, by His shed blood.

Often the pagan feasts included drinking thanksgiving to the idol.

Can a Christian drink thanksgiving to an idol?!
NO!

22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

My friend, NO PERSON is "stronger" than Christ!!
For He owns ALL power and authority! (See Matt 28:18)

Just because nothing is denied a Christian, doesn't mean he should partake of them!

Christ is JEALOUS for us, and of our testimony!
He desires that we have a GOOD testimony before non-believers and believers alike!

24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.

Our greatest desire, as Christians, is to PLEASE our LORD!
Thus, we should seek to please HIM by CARING for OTHERS!

25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

The word "shambles", refers to the market place.
Leftovers from idol sacrifices were sold there.
Paul is saying, if those items are displayed along with others, and without being specifically noted as
sacrificed to idols, then certainly they would be appropriate to buy.

Now, if a Christian were invited to a feast for an idol by an unbeliever, then he might decide to go.
If so, he could partake of whatever is put before him.
However, if it is pointed out that something was sacrificed to an idol, he should NOT partake!

The reason for the former is that it would be violating the unbeliever's conscience.
He/she would think LESS of the Christian if they knowingly ate something offered to an idol.

Verses 29-30 seem to be a question to the believer.
Should I allow another man's conscience to determine my liberty?
As a Christian, I am allowed all things.
But my allegiance to Christ should be such that I would not let another speak evil of my actions.
Therefore, it is good to NOT partake of something which an unbeliever seeing that action would
construe as wrong according to my faith.

It is better to deny self than to offend another!!

Therefore, whatEVER we do, let us remember to make sure God gets the glory!!
THAT premise will help us perform actions that exalt our Lord, and yet not be offensive to others.

32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

"Give none offence" must be taken in context here.

It is inevitable that Christians living lives of faith will offend others simply by quoting Scripture or praying before a meal.
For some will take offense easily.

However, Paul is saying don't PURPOSEFULLY offend another!
Be loving, kind, and considerate.

Being deliberately abrasive toward anyone certainly will not further the Gospel!!
And, our number one priority as Christians is to bring others to Christ
"....that they might be SAVED!"

As you interact with others in the world, are you keeping evangelism as your #1 priority?
Are you conducting yourself to facilitate that priority?

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.
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